John Adams

Amidst my presemester buffoonery, I was lent a copy of the John Adams series with Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney. My initial reaction is an enthusiastic cheer.

I am an old time fan of Giamatti, my favorite role was his portrayal of Harvey Pekar in American Splendor. Soonafter, his role as Miles in Sideways won me further in his favor. His role in Cinderella Man is only known through recommendation of friends, but I have seen most of his performances (including his Portrayal of "Pig Vomit" in Private Parts).

I see Adams and can no longer see him as anyone as else but Giamatti. He is that good.

Linney won me over in the sleeper "The Squid and the Whale" as a semi-narcissistic divorcee who decides she is more inclined toward "philistine" men after a marriage with a writer/professor, and focuses this shift on her son's tennis coach played by Luke Wilson.

As Abigail Adams, she embodies the salt and earth of this iconic woman. It is so easy to get lost into her character, and forget that she is acting. She is an amazing talent.

As for the story, it is stunning and intriguing. The pace is thorough yet fluid. The only gripe I have is that Adams and Jefferson seem to express a silent derision for slavery, and I question the accuracy of that element, given it was fifty years until that atrocity was abolished, and that Jefferson was a major owner.

I hope that was factual, but I can't help but feel it may be a rewriting to make our history seem a kinder, gentler one. As great as these men were, I would love to think they had the foresight that slavery is cruel, but, at the same time, neither did anything to really try and subvert the blight of American History. Either way, these are mortal flaws the film was uncomfortably dancing around. This causes a half a point loss for an otherwise flawless film.

Sixteen days until the 20th, and our new administration!